Stiles Presents the Trends to Bin in 2026

The fastest way to ruin a beautiful space in 2026 is to tile it for approval, instead of intention.

Copy and paste interiors are dead. Artificial Intelligence generates design ideas pilfered from the internet garbage heap. The future is a place for authenticity, personal taste, longevity, quality and self-trust.

The South African tile powerhouse, Stiles, pulls apart some of the major trends that drove style decisions over the last decade and describes a new, evergreen view reshaping design in 2026.

“We’re leaning away from sameness and into spaces with soul,” says Stiles CEO Stevie Joubert, “homes that feel lived in, not staged”. At Stiles, that means discernment: choosing surfaces that reference nature, finishes that age gracefully and products made with sustainability and quality at the centre. “Trends are temporary, true style has staying power,” says Joubert.

1. Stark white minimalism is OUT

Your home is not a dentist’s surgery, an abattoir, or a vet shop. Steer clear of the clinical look. Design is quickly moving away from surgical theatre-style tiling and towards matt textures and warmer tones.

If you like the minimalist look, but want to avoid the sterile feel, consider large-format, earth-toned tiles. The Continental Sand tile  is a great neutral option. This 1222mm x 1222mm tile has a concrete look and a practical, matt finish. It is part of a complete range of tiles with similar products for indoor and outdoor application, including slip-resistant tiles , pavers and a decorative textured tile .

2. Cheap junk is BASIC

We know it looked great on that famous orange app. The spinner lured you in and the price tag was inviting. But when it arrived, it felt cheap and it made you sad. Yes, this is the year we are steering clear of mass-produced, low-cost, high-regret retail options.

Take a tip from fashionista, Vivienne Westwood: “Buy less, choose well, make it last.”

2026 is the year of investment materials and sustainability, where premium quality materials are the real flex. Think of things that age beautifully and last for decades.

In this conversation with @mrphoenixgrey , the designers discuss the beauty of a stone sink. In 2026, look out for the stone-look porcelain slabs which can be used beyond floors and walls. Slabs can be sculpted into sinks, islands, vanities, shower benches, tables and furniture-like joinery.

View the Florim range at Stiles  for interesting marble-look and rare stone effect porcelain slabs. Porcelain’s durability also makes it one of the most sustainable building materials for modern homes, because you won’t need to replace it for decades.

3. FLAT is FINISHED

Texture is the new therapy. Three dimensional surfaces bring depth and dimension. Fluted, ribbed, pleated, embossed and reeded surfaces create light-and-shadow drama. Consider small tiles with relief surfaces like the Matiz fluted tiles , the Cuore My C Deluxe ribbed tiles and the Funky Tiles Arrow Kit Kats .

Larger sizes include the marble-look Monaco White tile , the fluted Terrazzo Satin and the Escama Brie tile with a raised,  chevron texture.

Edges are everything in 2026 and this year predicted to see the return of tile boarders, in fact a return to boarders and trims on just about everything; piping and fringe on furniture, tassels on cushions, pleats on curtains and moulding on walls.

Add instant character and personalisation by creating a bespoke boarder using the Zoe tiles in stripes and checkers .

4. Minimalism is DEAD

Architect and designer, John Pawson, is often described as the King of Minimalism. His own home, Life House   in rural Wales, is the purest expression of the philosophy, a place of “perfectly proportioned rooms stripped to their essentials”. Life House is intended to reveal “the excitement of empty space.”

To be fair, that kind of silence is beautiful… if you have nothing but sheep, rain and wind for company (and none of them come into your house). But in 2026, minimalism feels less like refinement and more like retreat. We’re fatigued by homes that look good online but feel hollow in real life.

In a contest between minimalism and mood, mood wins every time.

Think playful, soulful interiors that tell the truth: personal art collections, musical instruments leaning casually in the corner, photographic portraits, heirlooms, handcrafted objects, whimsical décor and those unexpected details that make a space feel alive.

Lenny Kravitz’s opulent Parisian home, Hôtel de Roxy ,is the perfect example. Described as a space of “soulful elegance”, it is layered with memory, artistry and atmosphere.

The message is clear: the future of style isn’t empty. It’s expressive. It’s textured. It’s storytelling, built on warmth and materiality, with wood grain, raised patterns , stone-inspired surfaces , bold design  and surfaces chosen to age beautifully.

The most compelling homes are never showrooms. They’re signatures.

At Stiles, you’ll find the support you need to choose tiles that feel considered, personal and quietly confident. Not chosen for a season, but for a lifetime of living.

View the full collection online at www.stiles.co.za